LIVE REPORT: Future Islands at the Iveagh Gardens

Arriving onstage to Thin Lizzy’s triumphant ’The Boys Are Back In Town’, Future Island’s Samuel T. Herring immediately marvels that “This is one of the most beautiful shows we’ve played, and we ain’t played shit yet!” Launching straight into ‘Ran’, the lead single from this year’s excellent The Far Field, they kick off what is sure to be one of the most beautiful shows Dublin is set to see this summer. Gerrit Welmers warm synths float over the sold–out crowd, who are immediately moved to hip–swinging by the airtight attack of William Cashion and Michael Lowery, on bass and drums respectively.
However, the star of the show was always going to be Mr. Herring and his eminently Gif–able dance moves. He delivers a master class in indie–aerobics; from his famed speed skater lunges; to thrusting bumps and grinds that would make even the most confident Chippendale blush; to the most impressive and high–kicking cossack dance you’re ever likely to see, during ‘A Dream Of You And Me’.
He is never not worth watching, and the passion with which he attacks every syllable – sometimes literally slapping the emotion out of himself – means that even during the inevitable mid–set slump the band are constantly engaging. Ever in passionate soliloquy, on early highlight ‘Walking Through That Door’, and on the immense, “Cave’, he delivers verses in a vocal style reminiscent of Richard Burton, that unexpectedly explode into banshee howls and full–throated death metal growls, while he prowls the stage with the poise of a young Marlon Brando.
With the sun not yet set, ‘Seasons’ finds the crowd in full voice, hands held high in the warm summer air and earns the band a huge and deserved ovation. ‘Long Flight’ builds to a thrilling thrashing, slashing and screaming conclusion and an encore of ‘Vireos Eye’ – “kitted the fuck out” in Republic Of Ireland jerseys – takes them over the line into pure euphoria.
All that, and time left for “A shout out to my homie, Séamus Coleman.”

SETLIST

1. Ran
2. A Dream Of You And Me
3. Beauty Of The Road
4. Time On Her Side
5. Walking Through That Door
6. Sun In The Morning
7. Balance
8. Before The Bridge
9. Light House
10. Doves
11. North Star
12. Cave
13. Through the Roses
14. A Song For Our Grandfathers
15. Aladdin
16. Spirit
17. Seasons
18. Long Flight
19. Tin man
20. Black Rose
21. Beach Foam
22. Vireo’s Eye
23. Little Dreamer